Renewing US support for the difficult "work of generations," President Barack Obama has assured Israel that his administration would pursue an elusive Mideast peace.

A peace activist was detained for 48 hours before being sent back to New Zealand for trying to enter Israel on a tourist visa.

Marina Erakovic's recent run of good form came to an abrupt halt yesterday when she was ousted in the first round of the prestigious Indian Wells tennis tournament in California, going down 6-3 6-4 to former world No 12 Shahar Peer from Israel.

Hamas and Fatah, the two rival Palestinian political factions, are in talks about forming a unity government, with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal claiming long-stalled elections in the occupied territories are also being planned.

Lupe Fiasco has been rushed off stage at a pre-inauguration concert for Barack Obama after performing an anti-war song telling the audience he did not vote for the President.

Leslie Bravery responds to the Israeli ambassador's comments on the Gaza conflict

The Sea of Galilee is a must for any tourist on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. After all, it is mentioned frequently in the New Testament.

Syria's neighbours are increasingly being drawn into the country's civil war in a variety of ways, whether militarily or due to an exodus of Syrians fleeing the fighting at home.

In our second debate on the Electoral Commission's recommendations for MMP, Graeme Edgeler and Muriel Newman put the arguments for and against reducing the threshold. Join the debate and leave your comments at the end.